Fuel separator and vaporizer for the manifolds of internal-combustion engines



1,627,597 1927 G. R. DAVENPORT FUEL SEPARATOR AND VAPQRIZER FOR THE MANIFOLDS OF INTERNAL CQMBUSTION ENGINES F'iled Feb. 27. 1922' I MZ QM Wm.

ATTORNEY Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE R. DAVENPORT, OF DETROI'I, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO STUDEBAKER GOR- PORATION, A COBPORATEON OF NEW JERSEY.

FUEL SEPARATOR AND VAPORIZER FOR THE MANIFOLDS 0F INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed February 27, 1922. Serial No. 539,551.

This invention relates to manifolds for internal combustion engines and the object is to provide such a manifold that will separate out the unvaporized portions of the fuel mixture and cause them to be vaporized and returned into the mixture stream.

The fuel used for internal combustion engines at the present time is composed of a, mixture of different groups of the hydrocarbon family, some of which are not vaporized without the application of considerable heat. If the fuel mixture is not heated the unvaporized portion is drawn along the walls of the intake passage into the cylinder. Some of this unvaporized portion is partially burned and forms carbon deposits in the combustion chamber, some works down past the pistons into the crankcase and dilutes the lubricating oil, and the remainder, which is by far the greatest portion, is blown out thru the exhaust ports. If the fuel mixture, as a whole, is heated enough to completely vaporize all the heavy fuel ends, the volumetric eiiiciency of the engine will be materially reduced and the performance of the engine will be seriously impaired by knocking, etc.

My invention provides for the separating out of the unvaporized portion of the fuel mixture, conducting it to a heating chamber where it is held until vaporized and then returning it to the fuel mixture. I do this by inserting in the intake manifold passages a broken-walled member which may be a cylindrical spring or member suitable for the urpose which has interrupced walls through the openings in which the unvaporized particles of fuel can pass to a heating chamber. This member is preferably supported only at its ends, leaving a chamber or space around the outside of the member to receive the unvaporized fuel. As the fuel mixture passes thru the manifold with the unvaporized portions clinging to the passage walls, these unvaporized portions encounter the member having uninterrupted walls, and being unable to cross the open spaces, drop thru into the chamber. This chamber may have heated walls, or the unvaporized fuel may be conducted away from this chamber to another chamber which is heated in order to cause vaporization and which will allow the fuel thus vaporized to re-enterthe mixture stream. This device thus applies heat only to that portion of the fuel mixture that requires it and does not heat the entire fuel mixture, preventing any loss of volumetric efliciency in the engine thru excessive heating and subsequent expansion of the fuel mixture.

In order to more clearly describe my invention I will refer to the accompanying drawings which show a simplified application of the same.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a section taken at the line XX of Figure 2 thru a combined intake and exhaust manifold embodying my invention, attached to the cylinder block of an internal combustion engine.

Figure 2 is a partially sectional plan View of the manifold of Figure 1, the section being taken on the line AA of Figure 1.

Referring to the numbered parts of the drawing 1 represents the cylinder block of an internal fcombustion engine :having a head 2. 3 is a combined intake and exhaust manifold having a flange 4 to which the carburetor, not shown, is attached. The fuel mixture from the carburetor enters at 5, branches and enters the cylinder block thru the joints at 6. Exhaust gases from the cylinders pass out thru the cylinder block 1 into the exhaust manifold passages thru the joints at 7. The exhaust gases issue from the cylinders and pass almost completely around that portion of the intake passages near the branch of the same, and thence into the exhaust passage 8 as is shown by the arrows 9, where it mixes with the exhaust gases from the rest of the cylinders, if any, and is carried away. At the point of branching of the intake passage a small hot spot 1.0 is provided in order that any fuel particles that impinge on it will be vaporized. This hot spot is not large enough to materially heat the entire fuel mixture. The intake passage on each side of the hot spot 10 bulges or widens out as at 11, and a broken-walled member 12 which in this case is a coil spring of square wire, altho any suitable form of perforated member may be used, is inserted therein, forming a continuous passage of substantially the same cross section for the intake passages, leaving a chamber '13 surrounding the member. The walls of the chamber 13 are heated by the exhaust gases, represented by the arrows 9 in Figure 1, passing there around. As the unvaporized particles of fuel in the fuel mixture, which enters at 5, collect on the walls of the intmre passage and travel slowly along the same, they come to the broken-walled member 12 and being unable to cross the open spaces in the same, drop thru into the chamber 13 which has heated walls. The member 12 being almost entirely out of contact with the heated Walls does not get hot enough to materially heat theentire fuel mixture. lhe heat from the heated walls vaporizes these particles and they immediately pass back thru the openings in the member 12 into the fuel mixture. It isthus seen that no unvaporized particles of fuel may pass the member 12, that the unvaporized particles are separated out and vaporized, and that all the mixture thus allowed to enter the cylinders is vaporized completely and is comparatively cool.

It is of no material importance at What point in the intake passage the member 12 is placed or of what length it is, and it is not essential that the walls of the chamber surrounding the broken-walled member be heated if means are provided for carrying the fuel particles thus separated out to a more remote heating chamber Where they will be vaporized and returned to the fuel mixture. This heating chamber may be heated by any one of a number of Ways, the method shown herein not being essential. t is also possible to drain this fuel back into the carburetor.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a passage for the fuel mixture of an internal combustion engine, a spirally formed broken-walled member of substantially uniform diameter throughout its length forming a part thereof for separating out unvaporized fuel particles, and means independent of said member so spaced therefrom as not to materially affect the vaporized fuel mixture for heating said unvaporized particles until vaporized.

2. In an internal combustion engine, an intake passage therefor having a portion of enlarged area, a broken-walled member supported by its ends in said passage brldging over said enlarged area and having a single passage therethrough of substantially the same normal area as said intake passage, and means for applying heat to any liquid passing through said broken-walled member into the space around said member whereby the liquid will be vaporized and returned through the openings in said member and into the intake passage.

3. In an internal combustion engine, an intake passage therefor, acoil of substantially uniform diameter throughout its length within said passage and spaced from the walls thereof for the greater part of its length for stopping and collecting any unvaporized fuel particles clinging to and moving along the walls thereof.

4. In an internal combustion engine, an intake passage having a portion thereof of enlarged area, a coil within said intake passage and bridging over said enlarged area for stopping and collecting any unvaporized fuel particles clinging'to and moving along the walls of said coil.

5. In an internal combustion engine, an intake passage having a portion of enlarged area, a coil Within said passage and bridging said enlarged portion for stopping and collooting any unvaporized fuel particles clinging to and moving along the walls thereof, and means for vaporizing the unvaporized fuel particles collected 'by said coil.

6. In an internal combustion engine hav ing an intake manifold and an exha st manifold, said intake manifold having a portion of enlarged area positioned within said exhaust manifold, a coil spring supported at its ends within said intake manifold and bringing said enlarged area for stopping and collecting any unvaporized fuel particles clinging to and moving along the walls thereof, the walls of said enlarged area forming a heating chamber within said exhaust manifold for vaporizing said fuel particles collected by said coil spring.

7. In an internal combustion engine, an intake passage having a portion "thereof of enlarged area, a coil within said passage bridging said enlarged area for preventing unvaporized'fuel clinging to the walls thereof from entering said engine until vaporized, said coil having substantiallythe samearea as the reduced portion of said intake passage.

8. In an internal combustion engine, an intake passage therefor, a spirally wound spring of uniform diameter throughout its length forming a part thereof for stopping and collecting any unvaporized fuel particles clinging to and moving along the Walls thereof, and means independent of said spring so spaced therefrom as not to materially affect the vaporized fuel mixture for heating said unvaporized particles until vaporized.

9. In an intake passage for an internal combustion engine, a spirally wound spring for stopping and collecting any unvaporized fuel particles clinging to the walls thereof, a chamber for receiving said unvaporized fuel particles, and means for vaporizing the fuel in said chamber whereby the'samecan be returned to said intake passage through the openings formed by the coils of said spring.

10. In an internal combustion engine, an intake passage therefor having a portion of enlarged area, a coil spring bridging over said enlarged area and having a passage therethrough of substantially the same normal area as said intake passage, and means for applying heat to any liquid passing be- 10 tween the coils of said spring into the space around said spring.

Signed by me at Detroit, Michigan, this 24th day of Feb, 1922.

GEORGE R. DAVENPORT Certificate of Correction.

Patent No. 1,627,597. Granted May 10, 1927 to GEORGE R. DAVENPORT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the abovenumbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 97, claim 6, for the WOId bringing read bridging; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of June, A. D. 1927. Y

' M. J. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

